05/28/2026
Memorial Day felt like the right time to skip the formal agenda and remember something Ralph C. Smedley understood early: people learn best when they actually enjoy being around each other.
So instead of speeches behind lecterns and someone timing “Table Topics” like it’s NORAD tracking missiles, we traded one Monday meeting for burgers, laughter, stories, and community. And honestly? Some of the best leadership lessons happen standing around a grill arguing about who burned the hotdogs. We’re not naming names, but if our President doesn’t stop losing burgers between the slats, we may need a parliamentary inquiry and a moment of silence for the fallen patties.
Something that we noticed was that somewhere along the line, a lot of clubs forgot the script. Toastmasters was never supposed to feel like corporate detention with name tags and Robert’s Rules used like a medieval weapon. It was built so ordinary people could practice leadership, confidence, storytelling, and connection in a place that actually felt human.
Sometimes growth looks like a prepared speech. Sometimes it looks like veterans swapping stories, new members finally feeling welcomed, and friendships forming over barbecue sauce and paper plates.
Learning should be useful. Community should be real. That’s what we’re building—not another lifeless meeting people endure out of obligation, but something living and breathing that people actually WANT to show up for.
And every once in a while, the best meeting is the one that doesn’t feel like a meeting at all.
We can’t wait to see you at the next one. If you thought the debates were interesting, just wait until you see what’s coming next. Second and fourth Mondays. 7:00 PM. Same place. Less corporate hostage energy. More actual connection.
